A BRONZE WINE CUP (JUE) LATE SHANG DYNASTY, 12TH-11TH CENTURY BC

the deep U-shaped body raised on three sharp blade-shaped legs, crisply cast on each side with a taotie mask in high relief with rounded eyes, angular horns and slim bodies, the loop handle on one side issuing from a bovine head, bisecting a taotie mask, divided by notched flanges, beneath a long spout and pointed tail forming the rim, decorated with elongated blades under the spout and tail interspersed with triangular motifs, surmounted by a pair of posts capped by mushroom tops with sunken whorl patterns, all raised on a leiwen ground, the surface covered with a pale green patina

T.Y. King, Shanghai, 1948.
Collection of H.E. Alexandre J. Argyropoulos.
J.J. Lally & Co., New York.

Mostra d'Arte Cinese, Palazzo Ducale, Venice, 1954, cat. no. 11.

Jean-Pierre Dubosc, Mostra d'Arte Cinese, Venice, 1954, p. 21, no. 11.

The vessel is in overall good condition. The surface has been cleaned, with traces of malachite encrustation.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Similar to the previous gu vessel, the present jue cup is another fine example of the final style of late Shang bronzes, particularly striking visually with the high-raised design executed in slim relief bands. Compare to a jue with similar decoration in the collection of the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Washington D.C., discussed and illustrated in Robert W. Bagley, Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collection, Washington, D.C., 1987, pp. 196-197, no. 19. Another similar jue vessel, unearthed in 1994 at Anyang is illustrated in Yinxu xinchutu qingtongqi (Ritual bronzes recently excavated in Yinxu), Kunming, 2008, p. 302, no. 156.